CASA Sacramento

Imagine your daughter is ten years old, and she has to attend a court hearing. She will sit in an unfamiliar, municipal room and listen to adults who barely know her discuss whether it’s in her best interest to move to a new home, change schools, or see particular family members. She knows that she may leave that courtroom with her entire world turned upside-down.

Would you let her go through that alone?

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Sacramento was established in 1991 to ensure consistency and support for children in the foster care system in Sacramento County through the use of volunteer advocates, advancing the best interests of each child. Our vision is that every child in need is appointed a CASA to champion them in Court, without compromise, on the path to a safe and permanent home. We match one caring adult volunteer with one vulnerable child to provide support, mentorship, and a "voice in court".

CASA Volunteers ensure that the Juvenile Court system, designed to promote the safety and well-being of families, is personalized to meet the needs of children struggling with histories of trauma from neglect and abuse. Volunteers build a relationship by spending one-on-one time with their youth. They investigate the youth's needs by visiting the youth's placements to assess safety and stability. They establish regular communication with social workers, parents, attorneys, teachers, foster families, and therapists on the youth's case. 

The National CASA Association has found that a foster child with a CASA has a better chance of staying connected to siblings, completing high school, and attending college. Children with a CASA Volunteer are more likely to be adopted than children without one, and the long-term rate of reentry to the dependency system for youth with a CASA Volunteer is approximately half that of other foster children. Children matched with a CASA Volunteer are less likely to fall victim to drugs, violence and trafficking. One year of CASA advocacy costs less than one month of foster care, and a youth with a CASA Volunteer is less likely to require public assistance or be incarcerated as an adult.

Since 1991, CASA Sacramento has served 4,468 children in foster care with 1,913 volunteer advocates who have contributed over 271,000 volunteer hours. A record 310 children were served in 2020 at CASA Sacramento.